Rahul Dravid in talks to sort out alternative careers for young cricketers

01/31/2019

Rahul Dravid, along with National Cricket Academy COO Tufaan Gosh and board officials, is working on plans to offer young Indian cricketers and alternative career in order to secure their future. The board will target youth players from the 17 - 21 age group for vocational training.

During the recent controversy surrounding Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya, former India batsman Rahul Dravid was one of the first to offer support to the under-fire youngster. Such is the persona of the retired cricketer that he is always looking out for fellow cricketers and young aspirants.

Dravid, nicknamed 'The Wall’, is currently in-charge of the U-19 Indian cricket team having previously guided them to the U-19 World Cup title last year in New Zealand. He is also coaching the India 'A’ team who have seen players make the jump to the senior cricket team led by Ravi Shastri. However, reports have emerged that the former Indian captain is now keen on developing a programme to help young Indian cricketers find an alternative career in order to ensure that their life does not come to a standstill if they fail to make it big in the sport of cricket.

National Cricket Academy COO, Tufan Ghosh, in a recent interview with TOI revealed that senior officials are seeking out placement agencies and other firms to help in training young cricketers and offering them alternate career options if they struggle to continue with the game.

"Dravid and the other coaches here had pointed out the need to start such a process. We are working towards formulating a structure before it is sent to the higher authorities in BCCI to get things going," Ghosh told TOI.

The overall idea itself is not new, with the BCCI taking a leaf from a similar system at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala where trainee athletes complete their primary education through open school examinations. "Right now, we can't be teaching them like what happens in NIS, but Dravid has emphasized on life education," said Ghosh.

Dravid feels the need to develop the virtues of a cricketer to prepare the person beyond the riches in Indian cricket. As a start, the NCA board will be targeting players between the age of 17 and 21 for vocational training.

"Most of the cricketers these days are so engrossed in playing the game that they don't look at any other aspect of life," Ghosh said. "It has been observed a lot of these young players quit cricket by 21. Then it's a struggle for them to lead a stable life. We are looking at life coaching, internships with companies and training in other vocational courses and then facilitating jobs for the youngsters.

"We will try to align the state bodies and academies. And if the players from various state bodies feel the need to avail this facility then they can do that easily. We are looking at roping in a good number of companies," Ghosh added.

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Rahul Dravid in talks to sort out alternative careers for young cricketers

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